Mine-discharging device



H. E. GRIESH ABER MINE DISCHARGING DEVICE mad on. 29, 1923 2 sums-sa a 1 .1 1 1- II I J H. E. GRIESHA BER 1mm nzscflmeme navxpa Filed Oct 29.. 1923 2 Sheets-5119M.- 2

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Get. 27, 1925. Q

- ;UNITEDSTATES mea er.

COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW J ERSEY."

- MINE-DISCHAR GING DEVICE.

Application filed. October 29, 1923. Serial No. 671,290.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hneo GRIESHABER,' 'a citizenof the U. 8., residing at Groton,

submarine provided with my mproved mine in the county of NewLondon, State of Connecticut', have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mine-Discharging Devices; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of I the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertamsio make and use the same.

This invention relates to mine discharg ing devices and, more particularly, to a mine discharging device especially adapted to be used on submarine vessels. The invention provides means whereby a number of mines may be discharged in rapid succession with a minimum of effort, and the invention also includes a simple and effective arrangement of reloading devices, mine tubes, compensating tanks and other parts,whereby a large number of mines may be readily handled in a very small space and discharged with great rapidity.

ing or magazine adapted'to hold a plurality of mines, means for discharging ordisplacing mines from-the casing through one or more mine discharge tubes, and also means for reloading the casing with'spare mines. The, mine tube casing is preferably rotatably mounted in such a manner thatthe mines held therein may be brought to regis- V ter consecutively with one or more mine discharge tubes. vVhile the minetub'e casing may be mounted on the deck of a surface vessel to good advantage, yet this casing is particularly adapted to be mounted on the interior of a vessel such as a submarine. In the latter event, I prefer to'mount the mine tube casinginside of a chamber which may be kept dry until just prior to discharging the mine, at which time water may be admitted to the'chamber from a suitable compensating tank closely associated with the chamber. A discharging device adapted to engage one end of a mine registering with the mine discharge tube is provided for the purpose of forcing the mines consecutively from the mine tube casing. One or more conveyors are provided for the purpose of supplying spare mines to the mine tube casing through suitablereloading scuttles.

This invention may be better understood by considering the following detailed de- In' general, the invention includes a cas- '1n Fig. 7

scription which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanymg drawings, in which Fig-1 is a vertical section, of part of a 3+3 of Fig. 1 showing the construction of the mine tube casing.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4et of- F ig. 1 showing one end of the chamber enolosingthe mine tube casing.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5.5 of Fig. 1 showing the conveyors for supplying spare mines tothe mine tube casing. I

Fig.16 is. a horizontalsection view of a vessel provided with two mine discharging devices of the type 'shown in FigsLl and 2.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary vertical section I view' of a vessel provided with'a, different form of mine discharging device from that shown Figs. 1 to 6, incl.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the parts shown Figs l to 5 incl. show a submarine having an ordinary hull 1, rudder 2, and a stern tube 3 through which mines 4 may be discharged. The inner end of, the stern'tubeS is provided with a suitable water-tight scuttle 5, and a chamber 6 is provided adjacent to the discharge tube 3 and the scuttle 5, this chamber being adapted to receive amine tube casing 'l'. The mine tube casing 7 is provided with a number of mine tubes 8 (see Fig. 3) and it is preferablyjrotatably mounted in suitable bearings 9 carried 'by the walls of the chamber 6. The arrange' ment of the mine tube casing 7 and the discharge tube 3 'is such' that the mine tube casing may be rotated to cause the several mine tubes 8 'to register. in succession with the discharge tube 3. As soon as a mine has been discharged from .one of thetubes 8, the casing 7 is rotated through the proper angle to bring the next mine into position in alignment with thedischarge tube 3.

A compensating tank 10 is providedin close proximityto the chamber6, this compensating tank being provided with suitable valves 11 and 12, by means of which water may be taken into the compensating tank and discharged into the chamber 6 as desired. The valve 12:may be opened to perthrougl'i the discharge tube 3.

mit water to enter into the compensating tank through a. sea connection in the hull of the vessel. The mines in the casing 7 may be kept dry until just prior to discharging them from the vessel, at which time the valve 11 may be opened, and water blown into chamber 6, which will not materially destroy the trimof the vessel. After the mines in casing T have been discharged,

shutter 5 is closed, and part of the water in cylinder 13 containing a piston 14: and piston rod 15. The piston rod is connected to a plunger 16 adapted to engage one end of a mine registering with the discharge tube 3. The particular pneuniatic discharging device illustrated in the drawing is arranged in alignment with the'discharge tube 3, and suitable fluid connections (not shown) are 'provided'for the purpose of admitting compressed air or other fluid to the cylinder 13. The pressure of the fluid acting on the piston 14- causes the plunger 16 to advance and force the mine through the discharge tube 3. While I prefer to use the type of discharge device illustrated in the drawing, yet it is to be understood that other devices (for example, a rack and. pinion) may be used to good advantage for the purpose of actuating the plunger 16 or its equivalent to force the mines consecutively through the discharge tube 3.

In addition to providing means for displacing the mines from the mine tube casing 7, I prefer to provide means whereby spare mines may be readily inserted in the mine tube casing T to take the place of the mines discharged from this casing. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings is provided with one or more conveyors 17 which are arranged in alignment with one or more reloading scuttles 18 arranged in the inner wall of the chamber 6. Each of the conveyors 17 may consist of a number of upright supports 19 carrying suitable guides 20 for supporting the mines. Each of the mines is enclosed in a casing at, which carries a rack 4 adapted to engage pinions 24. These pinions are carried on transverse shafts 23 supported by the upright members 19. and these shafts may be rotated by any suitable means cooperating With the gears 21, which are fixed to the shafts. When these shafts are rotated, the mines are advanced along the guides 20 by virtue of the pinions 2d engaging the racks 4". After the scuttles 18 have been opened the spare mines may be passed directly into the tubes of the mine tube casing 7 The compensating tank 24 is arranged in close pror-zimity to the conveyors 17, so that the decrease in weight caused by passing the spare mines into the mine tube casing can be compensated forby admitting Water into this tank from the chamber 6 as described above.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention as applied tosubmarine vessels but it is of course understood that the invention may be used for the purpose of discharging mines from any part of any type of warship.

More than one mine discharge tube may be en'iployed in connection with one or more a mine tube casings of thegeneral type illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 incl. In Fig. 6 I have illustrated mine discharging apparatus comprising two mine tube casings 7 enclosed in a single chamber 6 and adapted to supply mines to two discharge tubes 8. Each mine tube casing may be provided with its own mine discharging device 25; and a plurality of conveyors 26 can he provided for the purpose of providing spare mines to the mine tube casings 7'.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I have illustrated a somewhat different form of mine tube casing. In general. this form of easing consists of a plurality of mine tubes'27 arranged at substantially right angles to the axis about 7 which the casing rotates. The tubes 27 may be held in position by plates 28 forming the sides of the mine tube casing proper. In the embodiment of the invention. illustrated in 7 and 8, each mine tube casing is adapted to cooperate with a mine discharge tube 29 having an outboard scuttle 30 and an inner scuttle 31. The mine tubes 29 are inclined at an angle to the axis of the vessel and the mines may be discharged from the mine tube casings by opening the scuttles 3i permitting the mines to slide by gravity into the tubes 29. The scuttles 31 are then closed, and the outboard scuttles 30 opened to per- .mit the mines to pass out ofthe tubes 29. If it is 'so desired, discharging devices 40 may be mounted on the doors of the inner scuttles 31 or elsewhere for the purpose of giving the mines an impulse as they pass out of the tubes 29. These discharging devices may be operated by compressed air. and in this event the doors of the 'scuttles 31 would each have a cylinder and piston. mounted thereon. i

A compensating tank is provided in close proximity to the disciiarge tubes I prefer to make this compensating tank just large enough to take the water surrounding the mines in the discharge tube 29. A second compensating tank 34is also provided, this tank being large" enough to compensate for all of the mines onthe con} veyorracks a'nd'in the mine tubes 27. The mine tube casings illustrated n Figs.

7 and 8 may, of course,"'be enclosed in a chamber substantially the same as the chamher 6 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The partition e1 forms one end of .this chamber I and suitable doors are provided on this parfrom the vessel, a mine is loaded into the discharge tube 29. ater is then passed from the compensating tank 32 into the discharge tube and the mine is then discharged from the tube. Some of the water in the discharge tube is passed into the compensating tank 32, and the remainder is passed into tank 34. The muzzle door 31 may then be opened and a second mine loaded into the discharge tube. This process may be repeated until all of the mines have been discharged.

It is to be understood that the size, arrangement and proportions of the various parts may be modified without departing from the principle of this invention, which is not limited to the particular embodiments shown and described, but includes such modifications thereof as fall within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, the mine tube casings may be rotatably mounted on vertical axes instead of horizontal axes as shown in the drawings, and it is apparent that the discharge tubes may be arranged to discharge the mines from the bottom, sides, top or bow of a vessel, instead of from the after-end thereof as shown in the drawings.

I claim:

1. A device of the type described, comprising a mine. discharge tube, a chamber arranged in close proximity to said discharge tube and having an outboard scuttle opening into said tube, acasing disposed within said chamber and having a plurality of mine tubes therein, said casing being movably mounted so that the mine tubes may be made to register consecutively with said discharge tube, and means for discharging the said registering mine through said dis charge tube.

2. A device of the type described, comprising a mine discharge tube, a casing having a plurality of mine tubes therein, said casing being rotatably mounted so that the mine tubes may be made to register consecutively with said discharge tube, means for loading mines into said casing, and :means adapted to engage one end of a mine registeringwith said discharge tube for discharging the said registering mines through said discharge tube. I

3. A device {of the type described, comprising a mine discharge tube,-.a' chamber arranged'in close proximity to said vdischarge tube and having an outboard scuttle "oenin into said tube a casin" dis osed within said chamber and having aplurality of mine-tubes, said casing being movably mounted so that themine tubes maybe made to register consecutively with said discharge tube, and means adapted to engage one end of a mine registering with said discharge tube, for discharging the said registering mine through said discharge tube.

4. A device of thetype described, comprising a mine discharge tube, a chamber associated with said tube and having a scuttle opening into said tube, a casing disposed within said chamber and having a plurality of mine tubes, said casing being movably.

mounted so that the mine tubes may be made to register consecutively with said discharge tube, a compensating tank arranged in close proximity to said chamber and means adapted to engage one end of a mine registering with said discharge tube for discharging the said registering mine through said discharge tube.

5. A device of the type described, comprising a mine discharge tube, a casing having a plurality of mine tubestherein, said casing being rotatably mounted so that the mine tubes may be made to register consecutively with said discharging tube, and a conveyor adapted to support a plurality of spare mines in alignment with one of the tubes in said casing.

6. A device of the type described, comprising a mine discharge tube, a chamber associated with said tube and having a scuttle opening into said tube, a casing disposed within said chamber and having a plurality of mine tubes, said casingbeing movably mounted so that the mine tubesmay be made to register consecutively with said discharge tube, and a compensating tank arranged in close proximity to said chamber.

I 7 In a device of the typedescribed, a rotatable mine tube casing having a lurality of mine tubes arranged at substantia ly right angles to the axis of rotation of said casing.

8. A device of the type described, comprising a mine discharge tube and a mine tube casing arranged in close proximity thereto, whereby mines carried by said casing may be discharged through said tube, the said casing being rotatably mounted and having a pluralit of mine tubes arranged at substantially right angles to the axis of rotation of said casing.

9. A device of the type described, comprising a mine discharge tube having a scuttle door at each end thereof, and a mine tube easing cooperating with said discharge tube so that the mines. carried bysaid casii'igmay be discharged through said tube, the said mine tnbe casing being rotatably mounted and'having a plurality o't' inine tubes arranged at substantially right angles to the axis of rotation of said casing.

10. it device of thctype described, comprising a mine discharge tube having a scuttle door at each end thereof, a mine tube casingcooperating with said discharge tube so mele that mines carried .by said casing may diseha r'ged thronghosaid t-nbe, an jd means assoclated With a scuttle door at o'ne end of s a1.d In ne dlschargetube tor giving an impulse to each mine discharged tbrdngh said angle-site the axis of rotation of said casing. 20

In testimony whereof I aflii; my signature.

HUGO (Juan reanasnasna 

